Field Guide: Disaster Preparedness

By Megan Burks

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FIELD GUIDE TOOLBOX Building an Emergency Kit You should have enough of the following supplies to last three days. Supplies should be packed in an easy-to-carry kit that can be taken with you during an evacuation. (American Red Cross) 1 gallon of water per person per day Non perishable food items Flashlight Battery powered or hand-crank radio Extra batteries First aid kit 7-day supply of needed medications Multipurpose tool Sanitation and personal hygiene items Copies of personal documents (pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies) Family and emergency contact information Extra cash Cell phone with charger Emergency blanket Maps of the area   NEXT STEPS: KPBS and the American Red Cross will be giving away a limited number of free emergency kits to mark National Preparedness Month: Saturday, Sept. 17 10 a.m. to noon 3950 Calle Fortunada in Kearny Mesa ___________________ If you receive CalFresh benefits, or EBT, and had food spoil during the blackout, you can get the value of that food reimbursed. Fill out this form in English or Spanish and submit it at a county family resource center. Call the county at (866) 262-9881, or dial 211 for more information.

Blackout Highlights Need for Disaster Preparedness
City Heights faired much like the rest of San Diego County during Thursday’s blackout. Residents calmly lined up for ice and batteries at Joe’s Bargain Store and other markets. Once home, they joined neighbors on the street to chat, share food and listen to car radios. One resident even plugged a television into her car battery to keep up on her telenovelas.

The lights came back on around 10:45 p.m. in City Heights with few disturbances or crimes reported. But, like the rest of the county, the blackout was a disturbing reminder of just how ill prepared we were for a prolonged power outage.

Radio towers failed, leaving many in the dark about what was going on. Generators at some medical facilities didn’t kick on. And water district pump stations throughout the city were unable to operate, putting parts of City Heights, El Cerrito and Redwood Village on a boil water advisory through Sunday.

Many Residents Ignore Disaster Preparedness Warnings
Many residents weren’t prepared either.

According to KPBS, about 50 percent of county residents said in a 2006 survey they were ready for an emergency. That same year, the county sent out disaster preparedness pamphlets. Only 4 percent more readied their homes and families for an emergency following the campaign.

Resident’s lining up Thursday for bottled water, batteries and food confirmed the campaign’s shallow reach.

In June, Somali Family Services took a different approach to educating residents about preparing for an emergency. The community-based nonprofit included a disaster preparedness lesson in a health fair attended by about 150 Somali residents. The Red Cross taught them how to assemble an emergency kit with nonperishable food, first aid supplies, a flashlight and a hand-crank radio.

We’re waiting to find out how the Somali community fared in the blackout. If you have stories or thoughts about disaster preparedness among refugees or any City Heights residents, we’d love to hear them. Respond to this email, email spkcityheights@gmail.com or leave us a comment on www.SpeakCityHeights.org.

County Offers CalFresh Reimbursement Following Blackout
One safeguard already in place for some families is a federal food stamps regulation that allows counties to reimburse the value of food lost in a disaster or household misfortune.

For the county’s 200,000 residents using CalFresh benefits, good news came Friday morning when the county confirmed food spoiled during the blackout would be paid for under the regulation.

The blackout came just a week after families using CalFresh received their monthly funds to stock their cupboards and refrigerators with food.

Those seeking reimbursement should file a claim with the county by Sept. 19.

Reader Questions From the Blackout
We had some reader questions via story comments and Twitter in the days following the blackout.

Q: What about the families who do not use EBT benefits and are on a very tight budget? Can they get money for spoiled food?

A: We don’t know of any food reimbursement programs for families not receiving CalFresh benefits, but the San Diego Food Bank offers food no-questions-asked through its Neighborhood Distribution Program. There are no income restrictions and no identification is required. Locations and times are listed on its website.

Q: If I drank tap water during the blackout and live in an area later placed on the boil water advisory, am I going to get sick?

A: If you think you may have consumed some of the water prior to notification, watch for gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. If you do experience these symptoms, it is recommended you see your doctor or physician immediately to determine the source of the symptoms. (County of San Diego Public Health)

Q: Can you drink filtered water from your refrigerator during a boil water advisory.

A: Both reverse osmosis and carbon water filters are not designed to remove bacterial contamination from water, so even filtered water from your refrigerator should be boiled. Additionally, do not use ice cubes made by your refrigerator during a boil water advisory.

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